How do I screen mirror with audio?
What is Screen Mirroring?
Screen mirroring allows you to wirelessly project or “mirror” the screen and audio of your smartphone, tablet, or computer to a secondary display like a TV, projector, or monitor. It enables you to display the exact content from your device’s screen onto the larger secondary screen. This lets you view photos, videos, apps, websites and more from your small screen on a bigger display that’s easier to see and share with others.
Screen mirroring works by establishing a direct connection between your source device and the secondary display, allowing the two to communicate and sync the visual interface in real-time. Rather than simply duplicating your display, screen mirroring actively transmits a continuous flow of visual and audio data over WiFi or Miracast technology to mirror the screen on another device. This sets it apart from solutions like HDMI cables that only duplicate displays.
The main uses of screen mirroring are:
- Viewing photos, videos, apps, and websites from your phone or tablet on a larger screen like a TV.
- Giving presentations directly from your mobile device or laptop using projectors.
- Playing games from your phone or computer on a TV to get a big screen gaming experience.
- Watching movies and shows from streaming services by mirroring your device’s screen to your TV.
Devices That Support Screen Mirroring
There are several common types of devices that support screen mirroring including:
Smart TVs
Many modern smart TVs have built-in screen mirroring capabilities that allow you to wirelessly display your smartphone or computer screen directly on the TV. This works through standards like Miracast or proprietary software from the TV manufacturer. For example, Samsung Smart TVs support mirroring with Samsung phones using Smart View [1].
Laptops
Most Windows 10 laptops support Miracast for wireless screen mirroring. MacBooks can use AirPlay to mirror to Apple TVs. Chromebooks also have built-in casting abilities. For older laptops without native support, you can use third-party apps to enable screen mirroring [2].
Smartphones
Android phones and iPhones have options to wirelessly mirror your screen to compatible TVs and devices. For iPhone, use AirPlay. Android phones like Samsung support Miracast along with proprietary solutions like Smart View [3].
Streaming Devices
Streaming sticks and boxes like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Chromecast allow easy screen mirroring from phones and laptops. These provide a cheap way to add screen mirroring to any TV.
[1] https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00062630/
[2] https://www.computerworld.com/article/3604480/11-screen-mirroring-devices-for-presenting-wirelessly.html
[3] https://www.airsquirrels.com/ditto/resources/what-is-screen-mirroring
Methods of Screen Mirroring
There are several main methods and technologies for wirelessly mirroring your phone, tablet, or computer screen to a TV or external display.
Some of the most common options include:
Miracast
Miracast is a wireless standard that lets you mirror your Android or Windows screen directly to a compatible smart TV or wireless display without any cables. It works over your Wi-Fi network. Many newer TVs have built-in Miracast support, or you can purchase an inexpensive Miracast adapter or dongle like the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter.
To use Miracast, enable the feature on your phone or tablet, scan for available displays, and connect. Some troubleshooting may be required if your devices can’t discover each other.The Ultimate Screen Mirroring Guide
Chromecast
Chromecast is Google’s wireless streaming adapter that plugs into the HDMI port on your TV. You can cast or mirror your Android or Chrome browser screen directly to your Chromecast-enabled TV. The Chromecast app walks you through the setup process to get your devices connected on the same Wi-Fi network.
While similar, casting is not the same as true screen mirroring. Casting only mirrors certain compatible mobile apps, while true mirroring shows your entire display.How screen mirroring works? → Check this guide
AirPlay
AirPlay is Apple’s proprietary wireless streaming protocol. If you have an Apple TV or AirPlay 2-compatible smart TV, you can use AirPlay to wirelessly mirror your iPhone, iPad, or Mac screen to your TV. Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.
Swipe down from the top right of your iOS device or click the AirPlay icon on your Mac to select your Apple TV and turn on mirroring. There is some lag, so AirPlay is best for mirroring static content like presentations.
HDMI
For wired screen mirroring, you can use an HDMI cable to connect your phone, tablet, or computer directly to your TV or monitor. This will give you the fastest, highest quality mirroring without any lag. Make sure to get the appropriate HDMI cable for your device.
You may need an adapter or special cable for certain mobile devices like iPhones and iPads.
DLNA
If your TV and devices support DLNA technology, you can mirror content over your Wi-Fi network through your DLNA software. Windows Media Player has built-in support for streaming media to DLNA TVs and devices.
DLNA can have more lag compared to a direct HDMI connection. Performance will depend on your network strength.
Steps to Mirror Android Phone Screen
Mirroring your Android phone screen to a TV is easy with built-in screen casting features. Here are the steps:
First, enable screen mirroring on your Android phone. This is usually in the Settings app under Connections > More connection settings > Screen mirroring. Make sure this is toggled on.
Next, connect your phone and TV to the same WiFi network. For best performance, use a 5GHz WiFi connection if available.
Once connected to WiFi, open the quick settings on your Android phone (swipe down from the top) and tap the Screen Mirroring icon. This will begin searching for compatible TVs or devices on your network.
Select your TV from the list and your phone screen should immediately start mirroring. You may need to enable a screen mirroring mode on your TV as well. Refer to your TV manufacturer’s instructions. According to ZDNet, most modern TV sets support screen mirroring without any additional hardware or apps.
Now whatever is displayed on your Android phone will also be displayed on the TV screen. This includes apps, videos, photos, websites, and more. Make sure your phone’s volume is turned up to hear the audio.
Steps to Mirror iPhone Screen
One of the easiest ways to mirror your iPhone’s screen is by using AirPlay. Here are the key steps:
First, you need to enable AirPlay on your iPhone. To do this, open the Control Center on your iPhone and confirm AirPlay is turned on by checking for the AirPlay icon (it looks like a rectangle with an arrow pointing up). If you don’t see it, open Settings > General > AirPlay and toggle on “Mirroring.”
Next, make sure your iPhone and the TV are connected to the same WiFi network. For AirPlay mirroring to work properly, the devices need to be on the same network.
Finally, select your TV as the AirPlay device to mirror to. Open Control Center again and tap the AirPlay icon. You should see your TV listed there. Select it and your iPhone screen will be mirrored instantly.
That’s all there is to it! AirPlay provides a quick and easy way to mirror your iPhone’s display over to a TV. Just enable it, connect to the same WiFi, and choose your TV. You’ll then see everything on your iPhone screen beamed over to the TV in real-time.
Steps to Mirror Windows Screen
To enable screen mirroring on Windows 10 and connect your PC to a TV, follow these steps:
First, enable screen mirroring on your Windows 10 device by going to Start > Settings > System > Projecting to this PC. Under “Add the Wireless Display optional feature”, click the toggle to turn it on. This will allow other devices to discover and connect to your PC for screen mirroring.
Next, connect both your Windows 10 PC and TV to the same WiFi network. They must be on the same network in order to connect.
Then on your Windows 10 device, open the Action Center by clicking the notification icon in the bottom right or pressing Windows Key + A. Click “Connect” to view available devices.
Finally, select your TV from the list of available devices. Your Windows 10 screen should now be mirrored directly onto your TV display. Make sure to select the correct input on your TV if the projected screen isn’t appearing automatically.
For more details, refer to Microsoft’s guide on Screen mirroring and projecting to your PC.
Steps to Mirror Mac Screen
Mac computers have a built-in feature called AirPlay that allows you to wirelessly mirror your Mac’s screen to a TV. Here are the steps to enable screen mirroring from a Mac to a TV:
First, you need to enable screen mirroring on your Mac. Go to System Preferences > Displays and check the box next to “Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available.” This will add a Screen Mirroring icon to your menu bar that you can use to control screen mirroring.
Next, make sure both your Mac and TV are connected to the same WiFi network. AirPlay works over WiFi, so both devices need to be on the same network in order to connect.
Once WiFi is set up, click the Screen Mirroring icon in your Mac’s menu bar and select your Apple TV or AirPlay compatible smart TV from the list. Your Mac screen should now be mirrored to your TV display. Apple Support
Some TVs may require additional setup on the TV side to allow screen mirroring. Check your TV settings or manual for instructions. AirPlay also only works with TVs that are compatible with the Apple AirPlay standard.
That’s it! With just a couple quick steps, you can wirelessly mirror your Mac screen to any AirPlay compatible television.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you are having issues getting screen mirroring to work properly, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:
Update Devices – Make sure all the devices you are trying to use for screen mirroring are updated to the latest OS version. Outdated software can sometimes cause mirroring connectivity problems. Check for any available updates and install them.
Reboot Devices – Sometimes simply restarting or power cycling the devices can help resolve transient connection issues. Try turning off and back on the devices you are mirroring between.
Check WiFi Connectivity – For wireless mirroring, verify that both devices have a strong WiFi signal. Move the devices closer to the router or access point if the signal is weak. Also try disconnecting and reconnecting to the WiFi network.
Try Different Screen Mirroring Method – If one screen mirroring technology like AirPlay is not working, try using an alternative like Miracast if available. Each implementation can have its own connection quirks so switching methods may resolve problems.
Mirroring with Audio
When you mirror your device’s screen to a TV or external display, the audio automatically routes through the display’s speakers or audio output as well. You don’t need to change any settings for the audio to follow the video feed during mirroring.
The volume can be controlled directly on the mirroring device itself – whether that’s your phone, tablet, or computer. Adjust the volume buttons as you normally would to increase or decrease the audio level.
If you are screen mirroring but not hearing the audio through your TV or display, there are a few things to check:
- Make sure the TV volume is turned up and not muted.
- Check the A/V receiver or sound system connected to the TV and make sure the correct input is selected.
- Verify the mirroring device volume is turned up.
- Try disconnecting and reconnecting the mirroring to reset the audio output.
- Check for any available software updates on the mirroring device or TV that could resolve issues.
- As a last resort, reboot both the mirroring device and the TV which often resolves intermittent audio problems.
Following these tips should get the audio working properly when you mirror your phone, tablet, or computer screen. Enjoy streaming media with video and sound.
Alternative Ways to Stream Media
While screen mirroring provides a convenient way to share your device’s screen wirelessly, there are several alternative options for streaming media from your phone, tablet, or computer to a TV or external display:
Chromecast
Chromecast is a small media streaming device from Google that plugs into the HDMI port on your TV. You can cast videos, music, photos, and more to your TV from compatible apps on your mobile device or computer. An advantage of Chromecast is that it works with both Android and iOS devices.[1]
Roku
Roku makes a variety of affordable streaming players that connect to your TV. You can use the Roku mobile app to stream photos, videos, and music from your phone or tablet to your TV. Roku also has a screen mirroring feature compatible with some Android devices.
Fire TV
Amazon’s Fire TV products, including the Fire TV Stick, allow you to wirelessly stream content from your mobile device using the Fire TV app. You can also mirror your Android device’s screen directly to Fire TV.
HDMI Cable
For wired streaming, you can simply connect your phone, tablet, or computer to your TV using an HDMI cable. This will allow you to mirror your device’s screen and audio directly to the TV. An HDMI connection typically provides higher quality than wireless streaming.
